League Play-Off

Houghton Regis Stadi
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Alsan Labi kicked off to start the match. Amzar Benzaghou showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Alsan Labi in the 3rd minute of the match. Alsan Labi's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Amzar Benzaghou read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 12th minute of play. Yacine Cohen sent away a hard shot on goal in the 18th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 22 minutes into the game, one of Harlow FC:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. The goalkeeper, Madjid El Ouafi, was totally fooled by Houghton Regis's Zakaria Sami, who 23 minutes into the game made a penalty shot that went in on the goalkeeper's left side. Alsan Labi sent away a hard shot on goal in the 32nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 34 minutes into the match, Houghton Regis's goal looked a bit too open when Merouane Saïb came free, but Amzar Benzaghou reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Hameur Belloumi got free with Madjid El Ouafi in the 36th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Amzar Benzaghou made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Merouane Saïb in the 41st minute of play. Yacine Cohen's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Madjid El Ouafi read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 44th minute of play. In the 46th match minute, Houghton Regis was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Hichem Kraïche to maneuver through the defense. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 1-0 at half-time.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Yacine Cohen stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. In the 52nd minute, Ramdane Lelouch hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Hameur Belloumi sent away a hard shot on goal in the 61st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Hameur Belloumi recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 63rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. The supporters of Houghton Regis booed when Harlow FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 64 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ramdane Lelouch didn't get a good kick on the ball. Madjid El Ouafi showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Yacine Cohen, who was totally free with the ball in the 65th minute. 66 minutes into the match, Harlow FC's goal looked a bit too open when Hameur Belloumi came free, but Madjid El Ouafi reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Hameur Belloumi recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 69th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 72nd minute Hameur Belloumi shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Madjid El Ouafi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Madjid El Ouafi made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Yacine Cohen in the 78th minute of play. Alsan Labi received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 81st minute. Amzar Benzaghou tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Mehdi Lemoui's late challenge caught a Harlow FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Mehdi Lemoui helped the player get up and apologised. In the 83rd minute, Mehdi Lemoui hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Alsan Labi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 85th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 86 played minutes Houghton Regis got a freekick which was hit by Mehdi Lemoui. After having played for 89 minutes, Alsan Labi managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Harlow FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Alsan Labi was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. When Hichem Kraïche fell near the penalty area in the 94th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Houghton Regis's protests and gave Hichem Kraïche a yellow card for diving instead. The referee gave Harlow FC a penalty, 96 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Kader Hammani, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of Houghton Regis's Amzar Benzaghou. 1-1. The Harlow FC players were the happier at the end of the match as they had prevented Houghton Regis from taking control. The game ends in a draw.